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Police chief in high court battle to block successor Police chief in high court battle to block successor
(35 minutes later)
A chief constable is applying for a high court injunction to block his newly elected police and crime commissioner appointing a successor to him.A chief constable is applying for a high court injunction to block his newly elected police and crime commissioner appointing a successor to him.
Colin Port, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset, refused to apply for his own job when the newly elected police commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, told him he would have to go through a "competitive" appointment process if he wanted to extend his tenure.Colin Port, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset, refused to apply for his own job when the newly elected police commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, told him he would have to go through a "competitive" appointment process if he wanted to extend his tenure.
Port, whose rolling one-year rolling contract expires on 26 January, wants six months' notice and to block the interview process for a new chief constable. Port, whose one-year rolling contract expires on 26 January, wants six months' notice and to block the interview process for a new chief.
The case is due for "mention" in the high court in London on Tuesday and a decision by the judge, Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart, could lead to the interviews for the shortlisted candidates pencilled in for later this week to be cancelled.The case is due for "mention" in the high court in London on Tuesday and a decision by the judge, Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart, could lead to the interviews for the shortlisted candidates pencilled in for later this week to be cancelled.
The unprecedented legal action by a chief constable follows the election in November of the first ever police commissioners with the power to hire and fire chief constables. The unprecedented legal action by a chief constable follows the election in November of the first police commissioners with the power to hire and fire chief constables.
Mounstevens, an independent, has made clear she would prefer to have a chief constable who is in post during the whole of her four-year term as commissioner. Port, who has been Avon and Somerset's chief constable for eight years, is legally only allowed to extend his contract by 12 months at a time. Mountstevens, an independent, has made clear she would prefer to have a chief constable who is in post during the whole of her four-year term as commissioner. Port, who has been Avon and Somerset's chief constable for eight years, is legally allowed to extend his contract by only 12 months at a time.
A statement issued by the commissioner's office said Mountstevens had been "surprised" by the legal move.A statement issued by the commissioner's office said Mountstevens had been "surprised" by the legal move.
"After publicly announcing on 22 November that he intended to retire at the end of his fixed-term appointment on 26 January 2013, we were surprised to receive a legal letter from chief constable, Colin Port, requesting six months' notice and an injunction blocking the interview process for a new chief. As legal proceedings are active there is nothing we can add at this time," it said."After publicly announcing on 22 November that he intended to retire at the end of his fixed-term appointment on 26 January 2013, we were surprised to receive a legal letter from chief constable, Colin Port, requesting six months' notice and an injunction blocking the interview process for a new chief. As legal proceedings are active there is nothing we can add at this time," it said.
The clash follows newly elected Conservative commissioners floating proposals to charge suspects detained in police custody for the costs of their food and accommodation and to set up a 200-strong "reserve police force".The clash follows newly elected Conservative commissioners floating proposals to charge suspects detained in police custody for the costs of their food and accommodation and to set up a 200-strong "reserve police force".
The idea of charging offenders held overnight in police cells was among a number of ideas floated by the Hertfordshire commissioner, David Lloyd. In a new year's message, he said he also wanted to explore suing offenders who injure police officers who have to take time off work, introducing offender-funded "anger management" courses for those convicted of violent behaviour and making speeding motorists pay the full cost of speed awareness courses. The idea of charging offenders held overnight in police cells was among a number of ideas floated by the Hertfordshire commissioner, David Lloyd. In a new year's message, he said he also wanted to explore suing offenders who injure officers who then have to take time off work, introducing offender-funded anger management courses for those convicted of violent behaviour and making speeding motorists pay the full cost of speed awareness courses.
The police minister, Damian Green, responded to the "offender pays" proposals by saying he welcomed new ideas and would look at them carefully. It is likely they would need legislation. The police minister, Damian Green, responded to the "offender pays" proposals by saying he welcomed new ideas and would look at them carefully. It is likely they would need legislation.
In Northampton, the Tory police commissioner, Adam Simmonds, has added to his ideas of opening a "drugs eradication office" by suggesting a 200-strong reserve police force be created. Unlike the existing "specials", they would be paid to work around 20 days a year. Simmons has said it would be the first such force in England and would be used in an attempt to maintain police numbers. In Northampton, the Tory police commissioner, Adam Simmonds, has added to his ideas of opening a so-called drugs eradication office by suggesting a 200-strong reserve police force be created. Unlike the existing "specials", they would be paid to work about 20 days a year.
Simmonds said it would be the first such force in England and would be used to maintain police numbers.